I can't tell you how much it means to see a cosplayer as talented as you using such cheap materials to create something so amazing. I often have a very limited budget and end up thrifting cheap clothes and heavily altering them, just as you did here. Before, I felt bad that I wasn't doing everything myself from scratch, but now I realize that making costumes like this doesn't make me any less of a costumer. If it works, then it's not wrong.

Damn your incredibly talented. I really appreciate the OG Rikku FFX cosplay too. Most cosplayers do the FFX-2 Rikku and the OG Rikku really holds a special place in my heart from playing as her as a kid when I was 10.

As an artist myself, I have nothing but respect for you and your craft. Keep doing what you do best!

One of the best Rikku cosplays I've seen!

Alyson, I'm so glad you made this youtube channel to share your process with us. I've always found cosplay to be extremely intimidating as I assume that amazing cosplayers utilize very expensive materials + tons of high end make up products and use complex methods to put everything together. As much as I admire cosplayers, I wouldn't even think about attempting it myself. When I first saw your work on Instagram, I also assumed that you must use crazy expensive products with very sophisticated methods. Then I found your youtube channel and my perspective completely changed. I couldn't believe that you only use 7 drugstore makeup products, some craft materials from the dollar store/walmart, and lots of hot gluing to create most of your incredible transformations. Watching your videos made me realize that cosplay can be done on a budget with unconventional/simple methods AND still look AMAZING! The biggest cost seems to be passion, patience, and of course, skills built from years of practice. I wondered how well these cosplays last/endure wear and I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that your Rikku wig doesn't lose shape or colour. I'm wondering, how do you deal with rainy weather? Does it ever cause your painted clothes/armor to lose colour? Thank you SOOO MUCH for sharing your passion with us! Huge FFX fan and this brought back so much nostalgia, I hope you do a Yuna video too~

Cosplay artists like you always puts a smile on my face of how professional this is keep up the good work

"Why's she using a screen cap from the game for her thumbnail-OOOOOOH MY GLOB"

you have actually changed my life. I'm so mad that I've never thought of just painting over shirts and boots!!! Amount of times I've seen something look really good for a cosplay but not be the right shade I want. JUST BLOODY PAINT IT GIRL. And the goggley eyes and lollipop sticks? Sis thank you

Wow! I don't know why I always somehow considered her top was some sort of corduroy texture or something, so your video had me look it up and it is so not! I guess I might have assumed only because of how the collar looks sometimes in the game, but actually it looks exactly like yours (or randomly leathery depending on the picture), you nailed it so well, can't even!

Rikku has been on my to-do list ever since I got into the hobby over a decade ago. This tutorial is so helpful, I actually feel like I can try and tackle the cosplay now!

i know this video is a little bit old, but all of your tips for cosplaying on a budget while still making something that looks amazing are super helpful! you are a truly talented artist!!

"Arm weapon thingy" Me trying to cosplay

A tip from a miniature artist: when painting really small, lightweight pieces, you can lay down painter's tape sticky side up, and then stick the pieces down so they don't move when you paint them.

This was amazing to watch! I never have the money to spend on expensive cosplay costumes and have always wanted to try it out. Seeing the supplies you used to make this was an eye opener for sure! Thanks for sharing your process!

The amount of paint on this costume feels so wrong, but damn, the end result looks so good.

I love this video girl!! You heckin transformed those thrift store clothes! DANG You’re such a badass.

Please do Yuna next 😍

Girl you are TALENTED 😤 I love how creative you get!

I love how you do this with the cheapest stuff possible! Costuming can be SOOOO expensive and that can really stop people from attempting it. It shows all your need is creativity! Thanks so much! You’ve inspired me to try some again! I used to spend all my money as a kid on fabric but no more!

Very well done! Your cosplays always have so much attention to detail and I love that you make things in an affordable manner. Rikku definitely suits you well and I am interested in what you would come up with for her FFX-2 outfit!! :)

Riku is one of my favorite all time FF characters and you nailed it!

Wow youre gorgeous and im shocked at how well you did with such cheap material. And yet, youre the best rikku cosplay ive seen. Very good job

It's just perfect! That's one of the reasons why you are my favorite cosplayer :)

Amazing! I would love to see a more in-depth video of your watered down acrylic paint technique (ratio of paint to water, stroke movements, painting different fabrics, etc.). Your painted cosplays always look so professional, smooth, and blended. It’s clear that you’ve mastered it. I’m always scared that I would cause a streaky or blotchy mess if I do this same technique.

You did my favorite Final Fantasy character 🥺 Subscribed!

You’re amazing. What I call a true blue cosplayer.

Been waiting for this the whole time of this Rikku series! loved all of them.

Rikku is one of my faves from FFX

I am suprised by the efficiency in this video. Truly remarkable!

I love how you just kinda wing it for every step of your cosplays. I mean you have a general idea on how to execute it but then you dont go super detailed in what materials to use or spend forever thinking on it. You dont hesitate you just start and get it done it's nice. Having cosplays all made this way shows how long you've been doing it too it shows how comfortable you are with the routine. Do you have an Instagram handle? Oh yeah you do

Your creative innovation and adaptability is remarkable in itself, but the final touch is the way you always emulate the character when you don the final creation. Truly immersive cosplay!

I love seeing your techniques because a lot of them are more accessible than some other videos. Also you're insanely good at estimating stuff to be perfectly symmetrical lol

Thank you so much! I was actually told the other day that I was cheating when I cosplay because I use thrifted or buy cheap pieces of clothing in order to work off of when I do cosplays because either I don't have the time or money to buy or make a cosplay from scratch (full time college student). This person said that you're only a true cosplayer if you make everything or buy the whole cosplay off of a website. And then they said that there are no famous cosplayers that do what I do, and so I showed them your channel and they stopped talking to me. So thank you for being you and having your channel!!!! 💖💖

Your resourcefulness kills me every time. These videos are so great and I love every single one you do.

I have SO MANY questions about this. Once again your creativity and ability to create something from the most basic materials astounds me!

Amazing tutorial, I love your techniques! Final fantasy x is my all time favorite game.

You look exactly like Rikku its crazy!!! O_O

That was simply amazing. I am blown away.

you make such accurate, quality costumes for very cheap and without super fancy tools. i really appreciate and admire it! it makes me feel like i can do it, too. always a pleasure to watch your vids. thank you for sharing!

Tham!. I am impressed. That sums it all👍. The Albed would have made it only with machina. Lol.

I´d love to have more women (and people in general) like You on the Earth! Playful and yet hard-working, crafty, sharing and genuine, to name a few qualities :)

You are such a creative and beautiful talent. Love watching you bring characters to life using techniques that anyone watching your videos can do themselves at home with no expensive equipment or supplies. Your videos give new cosplayers the confidence to craft their own cosplay. You are a true cosplay ambassador. I thank you! 👍

This is true cosplay work !!! Keep going you are sooooo good at this

Wow! You are an amazingly talented artist!

cool!! excellent idea with painting the fabrics to give them depth and to make them the right color..

Completely off topic of your amazing work of art, but PUPPYYY 😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩

This is such a useful tutorial, there are definitely some fabrics I'm gonna need to paint for my next project!

Your too creative Alyson .i love ur style doin DIY costumes for cosplay..very nice!!!

와..진짜 똑같다!!

Love watching you transform... excellent eye for details! Appreciate your creativity too.

would love to see you do Ardyn...you are absolutely amazing...

Alyson you are amazing! i just want to thank you for taking your time doing these videos, I learned a lot from you and also get inspired by your way of making things, pls keep going. You are my favorite cosplayer

That's an Amazing work Alyson :)

woah perfect cosplay

i barely patient enough to work on my assignment and this guuurrrlll ur so amaziingg

You are a true artist. Thank you for this.

does painting the fabric cause it to get stiff of does it feel scratchy on your skin?

Starting the video: Hm yes this costume is good. Video: "I used thrifted stuff" Me: HM YESSSSSS

I love your videos so much! Your works are very inspiring and you're sooooo cute and talanted. Thank you!

Amazing!!

These methods really be HITTIN DIFFERENT

can you please do a yuna cosplay costume tutorial??? yuna is my favorite

Loving all your tutorials!

Honestly you inspire me so much :) I love the work you do

I’m a final fantasy fan

Alyson I love ❤️ this cosplayer

You are an incredible artist

So beautiful!!!😍😍😍

plz Aerith plz

Amazing! It's incredible how cheap this done but awesome it looks. Hopefully I can use some of these techniques myself. But I really worry about painting clothes with normal paint. Won't it crack? How does it behave if I have to clean a spot?

Amazing tutorial! This inspired me to try doing more work with foam and any scrap fabric instead of doing everything the "expensive" way because that is what is cosplay acceptable apparently. I'm starting on Rikku now. Also, did you happen to get rid of your Rikku patterns?

So creative!👏👏👏

una obra de arte T.T

I’m so curious how you clean these after wearing them at con? Or do you have to repaint it every time you wash it? This came out so beautifully so that would be a drag if you had to do that!

Also, how does the leg peice stay on without it slipping off?

can you do yuna next time? :D

T H A N K I E S!!!! ♥♥♥ it was needed!!!

pretty amazing stuff!

OMG!!! You look so amazing! 😍😍 I’m trying to make a genderbend Rikku Cosplay so this is so helpful! ((Also, will the paint make the fabric like cracking and crunchy or will it stay soft? XD))

I'm new to your channel and you just blew my mind. Awesome work and a sub from me

You’re brilliant!

Alyson cool cosplay Tutorial 💜💜💜💜

Seriously fantastic, i swear your significant other should give you a rose everytime your cosplay and fall in love with you all over again. It's like loving a new, yet same person every time. Besides...this way you get lots of flowers. lol.

Wife me please ❤ , the most incredible video ever. Even though I just watched im still like....how the hell did you do that?

I hear piano besaid :3

Yuna ffx-2 Pls ♡♡♡

I wonder a little why yoy don"t use an medium when you apply the colors to fabrics, it might be a little more pricy but combining it with heat later on would make the entire deal washable and a little softer!

The best cosplay!!!!

I don't cosplay.... but I can't help but watch these videos. LOL

How do you prevent the paint job on the shoe from cracking? I've tried to paint shoes a few times and the paint always crackles and chips off.

You are awesome

it looks great for photos !. But I remain dubious about the quality of the finishes and I do not think that a suit of this quality keeps it very long...

what did you use for the hair clips?

good video

hello, great job! the colors is acrylic or textile paint?

any tips on how to get the leg strap to stay up while walking?

*Have you ever thought at any time to attempt a Warhammer 40K cosplay? Maybe you could be a Primarch or even the Emperor of Mankind?

Hi Alyson ! Great video as always ! I have a question : did the fabric don't becames too stiff because of the paint ?

Will Lulu be next?

Since you use acrylic paint, does this mean you cant wash these?